Mga Komentaryo sa Bibliya

Amos 5:1. Even a lamentation— This and the following chapter contain a kind of mournful song upon the misfortunes of Israel. See Jer 9:17 and the introduction to the book of Lamentations.

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Amos 5:2. Forsaken, &c.— Cast down, or laid prostrate, &c. The kingdom of Israel, or of the ten tribes, after being carried into captivity, was never more re-established: it never formed a distinct kingdom from that of Judah.

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Amos 5:3. The city that went out by a thousand— "The city which was able to furnish out a thousand men for war, shall have only a hundred of them left. Only one in ten of them shall escape the sword, and other chances of war." This was the exhausted state of Israel, when Salmaneser attacked and took Samaria, and carried them into captivity.

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Amos 5:5. And pass not to Beer-sheba— Beer-sheba was not in the kingdom of Israel; and therefore we may hence collect that it was usual for the Israelites to pass into the kingdom of Judah, to Beer-sheba, and there to use some vain and idolatrous services. This place was remarkable for being the dwelling of Abraham, who planted a grove there for the worship of God; which probably continued, and was abused to the purposes of idolatry. It is immediately after said, that Gilgal and Beth-el shall perish; but not Beer-sheba; because Amos prophesies against the kingdom of Israel, not of Judah, as is plain from the following verse, where he calls them the house of Joseph, or the kingdom of the ten tribes, whereof Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, were the principal.

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Amos 5:7. To wormwood, &c.— Into wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth.

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Amos 5:9. That strengtheneth the spoiled— Who darteth out destruction upon the mighty, and bringeth devastation upon the fortress. Schultens. We need not be surprised to find Amos, who was only a herdsman, speak here of the stars as an astronomer, Amos 5:8. In Arabia, and in the neighbouring countries, to this present day, not only the shepherds, but the men in general, the women and children, know the names of the stars. Sanctius assures us, that the shepherds in Spain know perfectly well the stars of Ursa Major, Orion, the Pleiades, &c. and that they generally measure the time of night by the courses of these stars.

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Amos 5:11. Burdens of wheat— Houbigant's reading is, A pledge, or interest for wheat: "You exact a large and exorbitant interest or price for the necessaries of life."

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Amos 5:12. They afflict the just, &c.— Who afflict the just, who take a bribe, and who turn aside, &c. Houbigant.

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